49th  Congress,  )   HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES.    ♦  Report 
1st  Session.      )  J  No.  3418. 


PURCHASE  OF  LAND  FOR  THE  FEDERAL  BUILDING  IN 

BROOKLYN.  N".  V. 


July  2*2,  1886. — Committed  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  the  state  of  the 
Union  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


Mr.  Rockwell,  from  tlie  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds, 
submitted  tbe  following 

REPORT: 

[To  accompany  bill  H.  R.  4620.] 

The  Committee  on  Publie  Buildings  and  Grounds,  having  had  under  consid- 
eration the  bill  (H.  B.  4620)  for  the  purchase  of  land  for  the  Federal 
building  in  Brooklyn,  X.  Y..  .submit  the  following  report: 

On  July  12,  1882,  an  act  of  Congress  was  approved  providing  for  the 
purchase  of  a  site  and  the  erection  thereon  of  a  public  building  for  the 
city  of  Brooklyn,  and  limiting  the  cost  to  $8(10.000,  a  sum  utterly  inade- 
quate, as  subsequent  events  clearly  deinonstiated.  For  over  a  year  and 
a  half  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  (Charles  J.  Folger)  endeavored  to 
select  a  suitable  site  at  a  sum  proportionate  with  the  limit  of  total  cost 
for  site  and  building,  as  provided  in  the  act.  Twice  he  sent  the  Super- 
vising Architect  to  examine  and  report;  he  selected  a  commission  of 
responsible  citizens  of  the  city  of  New  York  for  the  same  purpose,  and 
subsequently  himself  visited  Brooklyn  and  made  a  selection;  but  upon 
inquiry  he  found  that  the  cost  of  his  selection  would  absorb  the  entire 
sum  appropriated  for  both  land  and  building. 

On  February  16,  1884:,  after  long  and  careful  deliberation,  the  follow- 
ing order  was  sent  to  Brooklyn  : 

Treasury  Department,  Office  of  the  Secretary, 

Washinyton.  D.  C,  February  16,  1884. 
Sir  :  I  have  decided  to  select  as  a  site  for  the  public  building  to  be  erected  in  your 
city  the  property  offered  by  you  at  $450,000,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
Bevi  D  feet  on  Washington  street,  two  hundred  and  thirty -five  feet  on  Johnson  street, 
and  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  feet  on  Adams  Btreet. 

In  approving  this  location  it  is  upon  the  unqualified  conditio'1  that  the  Government 
shall  receive  a  clear  and  perfect  title  to  the  property  described  at  a  price  not  to  exceed 
in  anj  event  the  amount  named  above. 
Very  respectfullv, 

CHARLES  J.  FOLGER, 

Secretary. 

Mr.  Leonard  Moody, 

Ileal  htstate  Ayent.  Brooklyn,  X.  Y. 

Under  this  order  the  property  now  held  by  the  Government  was  pur- 
chased, but  unfortunately,  instead  of  securing  the  entire  plat  as  de- 
scribed in  the  order,  the  Secretary,  because  one  of  the  sellers  refused  to 
carry  out  her  contract"  and  deliver  title,  consented  to  relinquish  two  lots, 
thereby  reducing  the  plot  to  175  feet  by  236,    The  cost  to  the  Govern- 

II  SEYMOUR  DURST  II 


2        PURCHASE  OF  LAND  FOR  BUILDING  IN  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


ment  of  the  site,  as  finally  purchased,  was  6408,501).  Witli  this  redac- 
tion and  with  40  feet  taken  off  for  a  roadway  between  it  and  adjoining 
buildings,  as  required  by  law,  there  was  left  for  the  building  a  plot  135  feet 
by  235  feet,  which  would  furnish  a  building  barely  large  enough  for  the 
present  requirements  of  the  post-office  with  its  enormous  business,  the 
United  States  courts,  with  offices  for  the  United  States  marshal,  United 
States  commissioner,  and  internal  revenue  collector,  without  leaving 
room  for  the  future  growth  of  business. 

The  population  of  Brooklyn  is  800,000.  The  census  report  of  1880  put 
it  at  566,603,  showing  a  gain  in  six:  years  of  233,337 — a  gain  of  over  40  per 
cent.  At  the  same  ratio  of  increase  in  four  years  more  her  population 
will  reach  1,000,000.  With  the  impetus  given  through  the  opening  of 
the  great  bridge  to  travel,  and  the  development  of  elevated  railroads, 
it  is  estimated  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  her  population  will 
equal  that  of  New  York  City.  In  population  it  is  the  third  city  in  the 
Union,  as  it  is  also  in  the  number  of  its  manufacturing  and  other  in- 
dustries. 

In  view  of  these  facts  it  is  quite  evident  that  in  the  near  future  the 
public  building  as  planned  will  be  inadequate  to  the  requirements  of 
the  Government.  To  guard  against  this  and  to  remedy  the  mistake  at 
the  time  of  the  purchase,  in  relinquishing  a  part  of  the  proposed  plot, 
bill  H.  R.  40LM)  was  introduced  to  the  House. 

The  bill  provides  for  the  purchase  of  the  remainder  of  the  block,  of 
which  the  Government  now  owns  rather  more  than  a  half.  The  dimen- 
sions of  the  entire  block  are  about  320  feet  by  235.  The  Government 
holds  the  title  to  175  feet  by  235,  leaving  a  plot  of  about  175  feet  by  235, 
to  be  acquired. 

The  short-sighted  policy  of  securing  barely  sufficient  land  for  the 
present  wants  in  the  large  and  rapidly  growing  cities  is  clearly  shown 
in  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia  public  buildings.  In  the  case  of  the 
former,  for  several  years  the  pressure  for  more  room  has  been  very 
great,  and  in  the  latter  city  the  accommodations  are  sufficient  only  for 
the  present  time,  and  already  there  is  talk  of  future  enlargement,  and 
a  looking  about  for  more  land. 

With  the  remainder  of  the  block  the  Government  would  have  room 
for  future  growth.  It  would  give  space  for  a  building  containing  rather 
more  square  feet  than  are  within  the  walls  of  either  the  New  York 
or  Philadelphia  buildings.  It  is  not  considered  necessary  that  the 
Government  should  do  anything  more  than  cover  the  ground  of  the 
original  purchase  with  a  building  at  this  time,  but  your  commit  tee  are 
fully  persuaded  that  as  the  remainder  of  the  block  cau  now  be  purchased 
at  a  price  not  excessive,  that  it  is  the  course  of  wisdom  to  secure  it  be- 
fore it  passes  from  the  hands  of  its  present  owners,  or  is  built  upon  with 
new  and  valuable  structures. 

The  buildings  now  upon  the  ground  are  of  little  value,  'out  as  the 
future  of  the  street  is  assured,  the  property  cannot  long  remain  as  it  is. 
This  block  is  upon  the  crown  of  the  hill,  and  Washington  street,  from 
which  side  will  be  the  principal  entrance  to  the  Government  offices,  isthe 
great  highway  to  the  bridge,  which  for  the  year  ending  June  1  accommo- 
dated 25,000,000  passengers  and  about  700,000  vehicles.  In  view  of  the 
above  facts  and  the  additional  argument  which  is  contained  in  the  let- 
ters and  statistics  hereto  appended,  your  committee  recommend  the  pas- 
sage of  the  bill,  with  the  following  amendment  :  In  line  9,  after  the 
word  "  exceed,"  strike  out  '-three  hundred  and  fifty  n  and  insert  kk  two 
hundred  and  seventy-live." 


PURCHASE  OF  LAND  FOR  BUILDING  IN  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.  3 


The  Supervising  Architect  in  a  communication  addressed  to  the  hon- 
orable Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  date  of*  March  17,  1886,  says 
upon  this  subject : 

As  to  the  advisability  of  purchasing  the  additional  ground  composing  the  remain- 
der of  the  block  upon  which  the  structure  is  located,  I  am  fully  of  the  opinion  that 
this  should  be  done.  The  buildings  now  occupying  said  ground  an*  nearly  :ill  frame, 
and  in  case  of  tire  would  greatly  endanger  the  new  building.  In  looking  at  tin-  fut- 
ure necessities,  also,  of  the  Government,  it  will  be  more  economical  for  the  Govern- 
ment to  acquire  this  additional  ground  at  the  present  time  than  any  time  in  the 
future,  should  additions  to  the  present  building  be  required. 

Office  of  Superintendent  of  Repairs 

United  States  Public  Buildings, 

New  York,  June  14.  1886. 

Hon.  Felix  Campbell.  M.  C. : 

My  Dear  Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  verbal  request,!  visited  the  new  post- 
office  building  now  being  erected  in  Brooklyn,  with  a  view  of  determining  whether, 
in  my  judgment,  additional  ground  should  be  acquired  adjoining  the  plot  already  the 
property  of  the  Government.  Unhesitatingly  I  now  express  the  opinion  that  the 
balance  of  the  block,  extending  on  the  northerly  side  to  Tillary  street,  a  distance  of 
about  175  feet,  should  be  purchased  by  the  Government,  aud  for  many  obvious  rea- 
sons. The  building  will  be  hemmed  in  ou  all  other  sides  by  Barrow  streets  and  many 
high  buildings.  With  the  additional  laud  one  side  would  have  a  goodly  area  for 
light  and  air  aud  protection  from  tire.  If  the  hind  is  put  into  a  small  park  until  such 
future  rime  as  it  will  be  ueeded  for  an  extension  to  the  structure  now  building — and 
one  must  remember  what  the  growth  of  Brooklyn  will  be  in  another  twenty  years — 
the  space  will  be  a  public  convenience  and  give  a  more  commanding  appearance  to 
the  building  itself.  The  additional  land  can  be  purchased  for  a  far  more  reasonable 
price  than  a  year  or  two  hence,  for  with  the  completion  of  the  post-ottice  building 
land  will  increase  enormously  in  value. 

You  will  be  but  doing  a  justice  to  the  interests  of  your  city,  as  well  as  to  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  by  earnestly  and  persistingly  advocating  a  purchase  of  the  additional 
ground. 

Verv  truly,  yours, 

WM.  J.  FRYER,  Jr. 


The  followiug'statement  of  the  post-office  business  for  the  fiscal  year 
1885  is  submitted: 

Stamps  sold   $33>.949  09 

Money-orders  issued   589,203  31 

Money-orders  paid   288,  016  90 

Postage  on  local  matter   258,544  43 

Number  of  employes   332 

Registered  letters  and  parcels  mailed  and  received  for  delivery   133,  527 

Pieces  delivered  by  carriers   32.  387,  :?19 

Pieces  collected  by  carriers   Id.  -■*.">.  S>2 

Pieces  delivered  from  boxes,  general  delivery   936,000 

Number  of  lock-pouches  received   4:!.  875 

Number  of  lock-pouches  sent   42.  970 

Number  of  tie-sacks  received   49. 1)42 

Number  of  tie-sacks  sent   52,  202 

Kent  paid  by  the  United  States  in  Brooklyn: 

Post-oftice   S4.500 

United  States  courts   10,  000 

Collector  of  internal  revenue   4."'>t| 


Total 


18, 500 


4       PURCHASE  OF  LAND  FOR  BUILDING  IN  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


Post- Office  Department, 
Office  of  the  First  Assistant  Postmaster-General, 

Free-Delivery  Division, 
Washington,  D.  C,  April  10,  1886. 
Sir:  As  you  request,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following,  showing  carriers, 
pieces  handled  by  them,  and  gross  receipts  of  Brooklyn  post-office  for  the  years  1876 
to  1885,  inclusive : 


Years. 


Car- 
riers. 


Pieces 
handled. 


Gross 
receipts. 


1876  :  89 

1877   89 

1878   89 

1879  i  93 

1880  1  110 

1881  !  116 

1882   1  |  127 

1883  !  133 

1884  |  141 

1885   161 


14,  332,127 

15,  613,  485 
15,  673,  088 
18,  578,  812 
21,  426,  769 
25,  449,  478 
29,  435,  154 
34,  815,  447 
40,  639,  838 
46,  290,  214 


$178,  838  14 
287,  649  84 
356,  524  32 
401,  874  15 
229.  072  44 
248,  913  58 
290,  737  85 
340,  522  40 
350,  124  35 
377, 879  87 


Very  respectfully, 


Hon.  Felix  Campbell, 

House  of  Representatives. 


A.  E.  STEVENSON, 
First  Assistant  Postmaster- General. 


Cost  of  public  buildings  and  sites. 


Proposed  cost  of  Brooklyn  building   $2,  000,  000 

Proposed  cost  of  additional  land   350,  000 

Cost  of  present  site   408, 600 

Cost  of  site  for  Chicago  post-office   1, 250, 000 

Cost  of  building  for  Chicago  post-office   4, 600, 000 

Cost  of  building  at  New  Orleans   4,  000,  000 

Cost  of  building  at  New  York   8, 000,  000 

Cost  of  site  at  New  York   1, 000, 000 

Cost  of  building  at  Philadelphia   4,500,000 

Cost  of  site  at  Philadelphia   1, 500, 000 

Cost  of  building  in  Saint  Louis   5, 000, 000 

Cost  of  building  in  Hartford,  Conn   1,  000,  000 

Cost  of  building  in  Boston   4, 500,  000 

Cost  of  site  in  Boston   1, 300, 000 


c 


49th  Congress,  \  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES.  I  Kkp't3418. 
1st  Session.      S  \    Part  2. 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  V. 


July  27,  1886. — Committed  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  House  on  the  state  of  the 
Union  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 


Mr.  Dibble,  from  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds, 
submitted  the  following 

VIEWS  OF  THE  MINORITY: 

[To  accompany  bill  H.  R.  4620.] 

The  undersigned  cannot  concur  with  the  majority  of  the  committee, 
in  recommending  the  passage  of  this  bill,  and  present  the  following 
statement,  embracing  a  recapitulation  of  the  facts  and  their  reasons 
for  opposing  this  measure: 

On  December  10,  1881,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  House  by  a  mem- 
ber from  the  city  of  Brooklyn  (Mr.  Bliss),  providing  for  an  appropria- 
tion of  $800,000  for  the  purchase  of  a  site  and  the  erection  of  a  public 
building  in  that  city  (First  session,  Forty-seventh  Congress,  H.  R.  1089). 

On  February  7, 1882,  another  Representative  of  Brooklyn  (Mr.  J.  Hyatt 
Smith  ),  who  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and 
Grounds,  repotted  favorably  a  substitute  for  the  bill,  fixing  the  limit  of 
cost  f or  site  and  building  complete,"  at  the  same  amount  (House 
Report  273).  litis  substitute  passed  both  houses  of  Congress  and  be- 
came a  law  July  12,  1882  (22  Stat,  at  Large,  101).  It  contained  no  ap- 
propriation, but  in  the  sundry  civil  act  of  August  12, 1882,  an  appropri- 
ation was  passed  in  the  following  words  (22  Stat,  at  Large,  304),  viz : 

To  enable  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  purchase  a  site,  and  commence  the  ere<  - 
tion  thereon  of  a  building  for  the  uses  of  the  Government  in  iht*  city  of  Brooklyn,  as 
provided  by  law,  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

On  March  3,  1883,  a  further  appropriation  was  made,  as  fallows  (22 
Stat.,  004),  viz  : 

For  post-office  at  Brooklyn,  New  York:  For  continuation,  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

From  the  foregoing  summary  it  appears  that  Representatives  from 
Brooklyn  proposed,  and  the  Congress  authorized  and  directed,  the  put 
chase  of  a  site,  which  was  to  costless  thau  8300,000,  and  the  erection 
of  a  public  building  thereon,  within  a  limit  of  $800,000,  for  site  and 
building  complete. 

Notwithstanding  this,  we  find  that  a  site  was  purchased  at  a  <-<>vj  of 
$408,500,  leaving  less  than  $400,000  for  the  erection  of  the  building;  and 
a  building  is  now  in  process  of  construction,  based  upon  a  plan  which 
will  not  furnish  suitable  accommodations  for  the  Government,  ami  which 
inevitably  commits  Congress  to  further  appropriations  beyond  the  lim- 
its authorized  by  law,  to  the  extent  of  *1 ,500,000  lor  the  building  alone, 
according  to  the  estimates  now  made  by  the  Supervising  Architect 


2 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT   BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


Here, -then,  is  the  situation  :  According  to  law,  the  limit  of  the  site 
and  building  is  fixed  at  $800,000.  But  the  fact  is  that  a  lot  has  been 
purchased  at  a  cost  of  over  one-half  this  sum  and  a  build iug  is  being 
erected  upon  about  one-half  of  the  lot  purchased.  This  building  will 
not  answer  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  being  constructed  unless  ex- 
tended over  the  rest  of  the  site  purchased,  according  to  a  plan  involv- 
ing an  increase  of  the  cost  of  the  building  alone  to  the  sum  of  $1,500,000. 
A  proposition  to  authorize  this  expenditure  is  now  pending.  But  that 
proposition  does  not  iuvolve  the  purchase  of  any  additional  ground,  for 
the  Government  is  now  erecting  a  building  which  covers  only  one-half 
of  the  ground  already  owned  by  the  United  States.  Besides  this,  Con- 
gress is  asked  to  go  further,  and  to  authorize  an  expenditure  of  $275,000 
for  the  purchase  of  additional  land,  on  which  it  is  not  proposed  to  erect 
any  building  at  all  at  present.  The  undersigned  oppose  this  purchase  as 
an  unnecessary  outlay  of  the  public  moneys. 

During  the  last  Congress  the  purchase  of  the  present  site  in  Brook- 
lyn was  the  subject  of  an  extended  investigation,  under  resolutions  of 
the  House,  directing  inquiry  into  certain  charges  of  corrupt  and  collu- 
sive action  on  the  part  of  officers  of  the  Government.  These  charges 
were  not  sustained  by  the  evidence;  but  the  testimony  then  taken 
throws  light  upon  the  present  proposition,  and  is  referred  to  for  that 
purpose  only.  The  proceedings  of  the  House  will  be  found  in  the  Con- 
gressional Record  of  the  Forty-eighth  Congress,  first  session,  pages 
2222,  3058, 3059,  4803-4808,  5162,  5344-5348,  and  in  the  Appendix,  pages 
299-303.  The  testimony  alluded  to  is  contained  in  House  Mis.  Doc.  So. 
59  of  the  same  session. 

From  the  said  testimony  it  appears  : 

(1)  That  in  February,  1884,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  agreed  to 
purchase  the  southern  portion  of  square  No.  20,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn, 
bouuded  by  Washington,  Johnson,  and  Adams  streets,  fronting  235 
feet  on  Johnson  street,  and  running  back  197  feet  along  Washington 
and  Adams  streets,  respectively,  for  $450,000  (House  Mis.  Doc.  59,  first 
session,  Forty  eighth  Congress,  page  8).  Subsequently,  a  strip  of  land 
22  feet  wide,  along  the  northern  side  of  this  property,  was  released  from 
the  agreement  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in  consideration  of  a 
deduction  of  $41,500  in  the  price.  But  before  releasing  this  parcel  the 
Secretary  inquired  of  the  Supervising  Architect  whether  the  remaining 
portion,  embracing  an  area  of  232  feet  by  175  feet,  would  be  large 
enough  for  the  purposes  of  the  Government,  and  the  Supervising  Archi- 
tect reported  that  it  was  sufficient.  And  yet  this  very  strip  of  laud,  and 
about  122  feet  more,  is  now  recommended  for  purchase  by  the  same 
officer  who  advised  its  release  two  years  ago.  We  append  the  testimony 
of  Mr.  Bell,  the  Supervising  Architect,  taken  in  April,  1884.  (See  House 
Mis.  Doc.  59,  p.  23). 

Q.  Was  this  amouut  of  $41,500  to  be  deducted  from  the  $450,000  to  be  paid  for  tbe 
site? — A.  Yes,  sir;  and  the  Secretary  asked  me  whether  tliere  would  be  sufficient 
ground  or  not  without  tbese  two  pieces  of  property,  and  I  told  him  there  would  be, 
aud  you  will  see  on  record  my  letter  in  relation  to  that.'  With  these  two  pieces  off  the 
frontage  there  is  considerably  more  than  the  Dutch  Church  property. 

The  letter  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  testimony  is  as  follows  : 

Treasury  Department, 
Ofeice  of  the  Supervising  Architect. 

March  89,  1804. 

Sir  :  In  reply  to  your  verbal  inquiry  as  to  whether,  in  case  the  Titus  aud  Hoffman 
lots  should  be  omitted  from  the  purchase  in  the  Johnson  street  site  for  the  Brooklyu 
public  building,  the  remaining  would  be  of  sufficient  size  for  the  proposed  building, 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


3 


have  the  honor  to  say  that  the  dimensions  of  the  property  without  these  two  lots 
are  175  by  335  feet,  which  are,  in  ray  judgment,  sufficiently  large  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  property  is  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  streets.  >; 

The  saving  effected  by  this  omission  ($41,500)  will  materially  increase  the  amount  to 
be  expended  upon  the  building,  ami  will  leave  $91,500  of  the  present  appropriation 
for  the  commencement  of  work  :  and  for  these  reasons  J  have  the  honor  to  recommend 
the  omission  from  the,  purchase  of  these  two  lots. 
Very  respectfully, 

M.  E.  BELL, 
Superr ioi n g  A rch  i  teef . 

Hon.  CHA3,  J.  Foi.OKU, 

Secretari/  of  the  Treasury. 

In  this  connection  we  quote  from  the  testimony  of  Secretary  Folger. 
{Ibid.,  page  37.) 

Q.  State  if.  in  your  opinion,  from  the  information  you  now  have,  you  are  satisfied 
that  this  purchase  had  better  be  consummated  if  it  can  be,  with  as  little  delay  as  pos- 
sible.— A.  I  think  it  would  end  the  agitation  in  Brooklyn,  and  I  think  by  giving  them 
this  site  they  will  have  a  fair  site,  which  will  be  suitable  for  all  reasonable  business 
purposes,  and  procure  them  a  good  building  in  the  end.  I  have  no  doubt  you  will 
have  to  make  a  further  appropriation  to  finish  the  building,  but  we  can  make  a  start 
when  this  question  of  site  is  settled. 

(2)  That  in  April,  1883,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  appointed  a 
commission  of  three  disinterested  persons  to  aid  in  selecting  a  site  for 
the  Brooklyn  building,  and  after  public  sessions  in  the  city  hall,  and 
examination  of  thirteen  sites  offered,  this  commission  recommended  as 
its  first  choice  the  .Myrtle  aveuue  property,  embracing  about  50,851 
square  feet  ;  and  as  its  second  choice,  the  Fulton  street  site,  embracing 
about  29,483  square  feet  ;  and  as  its  third  choice,  the  Flatbush  avenue 
site,  embracing  about  33,415  square  feet.  (House  Mis.  Doc.  50,  pp.  3 
and  4.)  The  Dutch  Church  property  (which  atone  time  the  Secretar}' 
of  the  Treasury  was  disposed  to  purchase,  and  which  was  advocated  by 
Messrs.  Felix  Campbell,  Robinson,  and  Slocum,  members  of  Congress 
from  Brooklyn,  and  opposed  by  Mr.  James.,  also  a  representative  from 
that  city)  embraced  about  42,840  square  feet.  The  property  purchased 
embraces  41,12o  square  feet:  so  that  it  is  clearly  above  the  average 
quantity  of  land  deemed  necessary  by  those  who  were  entrusted  with 
this  matter. 

But  another  consideration  enters  into  this  calculation.  The  amount  of 
space  allowed  as  fire  space,  by  common  custom,  for  buildings  erected  by 
the  United  States,  is  40  i'eet  of  distance  from  any  other  building.  Let  us 
make  this  deduction,  and  compare  the  various  sites  proposed  with  the 
fire  space  deducted.    This  will  result  as  follows,  viz  : 

Square  feet- 


Myrtle  aveiine  site    41,185 

Fulton  street  site   2^.483 

Flatiuish  aveuue  site   33,415 

Dutch  Church  site   18,360 

Site  chosen  by  United  States   31,725 


So  that  we  observe  that  the  site  purchased  by  the  Government  is 
fairly  above  the  average  in  size  of  the  sites  recommended  by  the  special 
commission  and  by  the  members  of  Congress  from  Brooklyu. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  recall  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Felix  Campbell,  of 
Biooklyn,  then  a  member  of  Congress,  who  favored  the  purchase  of  the 
Dutch  Church  property,  a  piece  of  ground  much  smaller  in  available 
space  than  the  site  actually  purchased  by  the  Government.  He  says  in 
his  testimony  (House  Mis.  Doc.  ."><>,  p.  03),  concerning  the  Dutch  Church 
property : 

*  *  *  We  could  build  a  building  nearly  80  fiet  wide,  and  as  deep  as  you  want 
it  to  go  up  to  315  feet,  still  having  a  space  of  40  feet  between  the  two  buildings. 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


which  is  wider  than  many  of  the  streets  in  our  city  from  curh  to  curb.  The  Secre- 
tary told  me  that  night  he  had  an  idea  that  they  would  have  to  build  broad,  but  I 
showed  him  where  a  building  carried  up  a  little  higher,  or  four  stories,  would  answer 
all  purposes.  Now,  it  is  impossible  for  Brooklyn  to  use  a  building  which  could  be 
built  on  that  lot  during  my  lifetime,  which  I  hope  will  be  fifty  years  longer.  We 
are  not  like  New  York,  Cincinnati,  and  Philadelphia,  where  large  amounts  of  mail 
matter  is  distributed.  Some  people  have  often  thought,  aud  a  great  many  think  to- 
day, that  we  ought  not  to  have  a  post-office  there  at  all. 

And  again  (p.  G5),  Mr.  Felix  Campbell  testifies: 

*  *  *  After  that  my  letter  was  written  suggesting  the  Dutch  Church  site.  That 
site  would  afford  ample  room  for  a  building  that  would  answer  all  the  purposes  of  the 
city  of  Brooklyn  for  many  years  to  come.  The  space  occupied  by  the  post-office  now, 
I  think,  is  two  floors.  The  first  floor  is  50  by  110  feet,  and  my  impression  is  that  the 
second  floor  is  50  by  80.  I  was  in  the  office  while  this  thing  was  pending.  The 
postmaster  was  not  in  at  the  time,  but  the  gentleman  representing  him  was  there,  and 
we  were  talking  about  room,  &c.  I  wanted  to  know  of  them  if  twice  the  amount  of 
room  they  now  have  would  be  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  the  Department  in  any 
new  building  that  might  be  put  up.  I  think  the  reply  was  that  it  would  last  them 
twenty  years.  Now,  we  could  give  them  more  than  twice  the  room  they  now  have 
on  one  floor  of  a  building  that  might  be  erected  on  the  Dutch  Church  property. 

Some  assistance  will  be  obtained  in  arriving  at  a  conclusion  as  to  the 
relative  importance  of  the  Brooklyn  post-office  by  considering  the  fol- 
lowing figures,  showing  the  numbers  of  the  clerical  force,  exclusive  of 
city  carriers  and  railway  postal  clerks  at  the  central  post-offices  in  some 
of  our  large  cities.  These  figures  are  from  the  last  official  reports  on 
file  in  the  Post-Office  Department : 

Clerks. 


New  York,  main  office   879 

Washington.  D.  C,  main  office     178 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  main  office   76 

Detroit,  Mich.,  main  office   61 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  main  office       45 


(3)  In  the  investigation  in  the  last  Congress  many  witnesses  were  ex- 
amined, and  not  a  single  item  of  testimony  was  given  by  friends  or  op- 
ponents of  the  purchase  of  the  present  site  to  the  effect  that  it  was  too 
small  for  Government  purposes.  It  is  significant  that  the  very  first  wit- 
ness produced  in  opposition  to  the  site,  when  questioned  concerning  the 
present  site,  answered  (Mis.  Doc.  No.  59,  p.  157 ): 

A.  Well,  so  far  as  the  size  of  the  site  is  concerned,  it  may  be  suitable  enough,  but 
as  to  the  locality  I  should  think  it  a  very  unsuitable  one. 

(4)  The  reasons  assigned  by  the  Supervising  Architect  for  his  change 
of  opiuion  seem  to  the  undersigned  to  be  unsatisfactory.  In  his  letter 
of  March  17, 1880,  he  advises  that  the  building  to  be  erected  will  be  in 
danger  of  fire  from  the  adjoining  frame  buildings.  But  the  usual  space 
of  40  feet  is  allowed  as  a  protection  against  fire,  and  the  width  of  the 
streets  on  the  other  three  sides  of  the  building  is  but  little  more.  The 
only  other  reason  given  is  that  it  is  economy  to  buy  now  rather  than  to 
purchase  when  property  is  at  higher  prices;  but  there  is  no  probability 
that  the  remainder  of  this  square  will  be  ever  needed  by  the  Govern- 
ment. Mr.  William  J.  Frye  in  his  letter,  a  copy  of  which  is  attached 
to  the  report  of  a  majority  of  the  committee,  states  the  whole  situation 
when  he  says  that  the  land  can  be  put  into  a  small  park  until  needed,  and 
that  it  will  add  beauty  to  the  building.  In  the  judgment  of  die  under- 
signed, it  is  not  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to  provide  a  park 
for  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn. 

An  expenditure  of  $1,500  000  on  the  building  will  give  floor  space, 
according  to  the  estimate  of  the  Supervising  Architect,  amounting  to 
135,114  square  feet.    The  amount  of  floor  space  now  occupied  by  the 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  ISROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


5 


Government  in  rented  quarters  is  23,192  square  feet,  and  the  estimate 
of  the  minimum  spaee  req aired,  in  September,  1884,  was  32,310  square 
feet.  We  cannot  see  any  reason,  therefore,  for  indulging  in  any  further 
extravagance  of  space.    The  estimates  are  appended. 

Treasury  Depajrtm en t, 
Office  of  the  Supervising  ARCHITECT, 

July  20,1886. 

Sir:  In  response  to  your  verbal  request  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a 
statement  showing  the  tioor  space  which  can  be  provided  in  the  post-office  building 
at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y..  under  the  present  limit  of  cost,  and  the  door  space  which  ran  be 
provided  in  the  proposed  building  under  the  extended  limit  of  cost.  $1,500,000  for  liie 
building  alone  : 

Present  building : 

Square  feet. 

Basement   15,  240 

First  story   15,  040 

Second  story   11, 943 

Attic   9,264 

Total   51,637 

Proposed  building : 

Basement  *   26,  880 

First  story   26, 880 

Second  story     21,  678 

Third  story'   16,  320 

Fourth  story   21,678 

Attic   21.678 

Total   135,  114 

I  also  submit  estimate  of  cost  of  the  building  as  proposed  under  the  enlarged  plan. 
Building : 

3,565,720  cubic  feet  at  40  cents   #1,  426,  290  40 

Heating  apparatus,  3,565,726  cubic  Feet  at  \\  cents   53,485  89 

Approaches   20,000  00 

Total   1 ,  499,  776  29 

Respectfully,  yoars, 

M.  e.  bs:ll, 
Supervising  Architect. 

Hon.  Samuel  Dibble, 

Chairman  Committer  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds, 

House  of  Representatives. 


[Office  of  the  United  States  District  Attorney,  Eastern  District  of  New  York,  corner  of  Clinton  and 

Montague  streets.] 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  September  1, 1884.* 
Sir  :  Iu  reply  to  your  letter  of  Auguest  28,  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  statement 
desired  by  you.     In  making  my  statement  of  space  required,  I  have  made  the  amount 
at  minimum. 

Yours,  respctfully, 

F.  W.  ANGEL. 

Custodian, 

M.  E.  Bell,  Esq., 

Supervising  Architect,  Washington,  D.  C. 


6 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


Statement  allowing  number  of  employes,  title  of  office,  and  accommodation  at  present  oc- 
cupied bg  each  Vmted  States  official,  and  an  estimate  of  the  minimum  amount  of  accom- 
modation expressed  in  number  of  rooms  and  aggregate  square  j\  et  of  floor  space  each  office 
will  require  in  the  new  building. 


Office. 


Number  Floor  spare  S^fSSL  Number  of 
of  rooms,  now  iu  use.    j^SJj.  emPlo?6s. 


Post-office  

Postmaster's  private  room  

Postmaster's  reception  room  

Cashier  

Assistant  postmaster   

Money  order  and  registered  letter  

Inquiry  department  

Lobby  to  post-office  

"Working  department,  boxes,  distribution,  &c,  of  mail 

United  States  judge  

Chambers  

Private  room  

Library  

Court-room  

Consulting  room  for  attorneys  

Witness  room  

Grand  jury  room  

Petit  jury  room  

United  States  clerk  

Clerk    

Assistant  clerk  

General  room  

Recording  room  

Do  

Copyist   

United  States  attorney  

District  attorney  (  

Assistant  attoiney  

Outer  office  

Record  room   

United  States  marshal  

Marshal  

Chief  clerk  

Outer  office  

Deputies'  room  

Storeroom  

Internal  revenue    

Collector  

Chief  deputy  

Chief  division  deputies   

Chief  spirits  department  

Bond  clerk  

Deputy's  room  

Business  room   

Record  room  

Seizure  room  

United  States  commissioners  

Court- room  

United  States  supervisor  of  election  


Square  feet.  Square  feet. 


300 
240 
400 


2,  080 
448 
546 

4,013 


500 
300 


2.400 


2u0 
1,  000 
600 


300 
180 
300 
120 
620 


210 
120 

350 


112 
266 
352 
400 
1,  200 


300 
300 
320 
440 
665 
660 
770 


540 
1,080 


400 
300 
400 
400 

1,  800 
400 

1,  100 
12, 000 


500 
300 
900 
2,  400 
1.0CO 
200 
500 
300 


300 
180 
300 
300 
300 
120 


300 
120 
240 
150 


150 
200 
150 
300 
400 


300 
300 
300 
100 
100 
700 
700 
500 
500 


201 


39 


400   

2,000  Unknown. 


Respectfully, 

FRANK  WARREN  ANGEL, 

Custodian. 

In  conclusion,  while  iu  favor  of  au  increase  of  limit  for  the  building, 
the  undersigned  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  Government  does  not  re- 
quire the  additional  land  for  any  public  use. 

It'  we  direct  this  purchase  of  land  we  do  not  need,  some  pretext  will 
hereafter  be  found  for  building  upon  it  also,  and  we  may  expect  a  re- 
sult such  as  the  following  : 


Cost  of  present  site   *40*,  500 

Cost  of  additional  land   -27;">,  000 

Cost  of  building  on  present  site     1, 500, 000 

Future  cost  of  extension  on  additional  land   1,500,000 


Total   3,6«3,500 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


7 


This  is  an  illustration  of  the  methods  by  which  an  enterprise,  author- 
ized by  Congress,  with  the  provision  that  its  cost  shall  not  exceed 
$800,000,  "rows  to  the  magnitude  of  several  millions.  And  if  prece- 
dentsjcan  be  cited  of  similar  prodigality  in  the  past,  it  is  but  an  addi- 
tional reason  why  the  lessons  of  experience  should  lead  us  to  avoid  it 
in  the  future. 

Certain  extracts  from  the  Congressional  Record  of  the  first  session 
of  the  Forty-eighth  Congress  are  appended  hereto  for  further  informa- 
tion. 

SAMUEL  DIBBLE. 
BERAH  W  ILK  INS. 
N.  B.  WORTHINGTOtf. 
THO.  D.  JOHNSTON. 
W.  H.  WADE. 
W.  I).  OWEN. 


APPENDIX. 

Extracts  from  Congressional  Record  of  Forty-eighth  Congress,  first  session. 
March  24,  1884  (page  2222): 

BROOKLYN  PUBLIC  BUILDING. 

Mr.  Robinson,  of  New  York,  submitted  the  following  resolution  ;  which  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  hereby  directed  to  furnish  to  this 
House  copies  of  all  orders,  reports,  recommendations,  correspondence,  and  other  pa- 
pers on  file  in  the  Treasury  Department  relating  to  the  purchase  of  the  site  for  a  pub- 
lic building  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  State  of  New  York.'* 

April  17,  1884  (pa^es  3058,  3059) : 

Mr.  Dibble.  I  now  ask  consent  to  submit  the  report  from  the  Committee  on  Pub- 
lic Buildidgs  aud  Grounds,  being  a  substitute  for  the  resolution  referred  to  that  com- 
mittee. 

The  Speaker.  The  original  resolution  will  be  read,  and  then  the  proposed  substi- 
tute. 

The  original  resolution  was  read,  as  follows : 

'•'  Resolved.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  hereby  directed  to  furnish  to  this 
House  copies  of  all  orders,  reports,  recommendations,  correspondence,  and  other  pa- 
pers on  file  in  the  Treasury  Department  relating  to  the  purchase  of  a  site  for  a  pub- 
lic building  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn  and  State  of  New  York.'" 

The  substitute  was  read,  as  follows: 

"  Whereas  a  resolution  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and 
Grounds  relative  to  the  purchase  of  a  site  for  a  public  building  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ; 
and 

"  Whereas  at  a  hearing  before  said  committee  specific  charges  were  made,  in  writ- 
ing, and  filed  with  said  committee,  alleging  complicity  between  some  of  the  officers 
of  the  Government  and  owners  of  real  estate  in  said  city,  whereby  it  is  alleged  that 
the  Government  is  likely  to  be  required  to  pay  an  exorbitant  price  for  the  contem- 
plated site ;  and 

"  Whereas  it  is  due  to  the  Government  as  well  as  to  the  officers  implicated  that  the 
facts  should  be  ascertained:  Therefore, 

"Be  it  resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  requested  to  furnish  to  this 
House  copies  of  all  orders,  reports,  recommendations,  correspondence,  and  other  pa- 
pers on  rile  relative  to  the  nurchase  or  contemplated  purchase  of  a  site  for  a  public 
building  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  that  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings 
aud  Grounds  be  instructed  to  investigate  the  charges  made,  with  power  to  send  for 
persons  and  papers;  and  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  be  requested  to  BOSpend 
negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  said  property  pending  the  investigation." 


8  FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Mr  DlBBMB  I  wish  to  say,  on  the  part  of  the  committee,  that  we  have  proceeded 
m  this  matter  simplv  because  the  charges  were  before  us  in  writing.  We  have  no 
further  commeiTte  01  statements  to  present  until  we  are  authorized  to  investigate  and 

^The  question  was  taken  upon  the  substitute,  and  it  was  agreed  to. 
The  resolution  as  amended  was  then  adopted. 

r una 4  1884  fnases  48i)3,  et passim):  ,  .  , 

Mi  Hopkins  rom  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds,  reported  cer- 
taintestln  oi  v  taken  by  that  committee  under  instructions  of  the  House,  in  regard to 
ci  r-es  of  corruption  and  collusion  in  reference  to  the  selection  and  purchase  of  the 
site  of  the  Federal  building  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  with  resolutions  thereon;  whiel t  res- 
olutions were  referred  to  the  House  Calendar,  and.  with  Hie  accompanying  report,  or- 

(1  M?  H^V^^^'^^^^  from  the  Committee  on  P^^- 
inos  ami  Grounds  with  regard  to  the  purchase  of  the  site  for  the  Brooklyn  post-office 
rdesirVtelmfemit  a  motion,  which  I  think  will  not  be  opposed  by  the  committee  that 
Lat  report  be  recoinmited  o  the  committee  for  the  purpose  of  further  examination, 
inasmuch as ?he Result  of  the  investigation  by  that  committee  after  careful  examina- 
tion is  v ot  sa  sfactorv  to  the  people  of  that  district.  1  ask  my  friend  from  Pennsyl- 
vania [Mr.  Hopkins]  to  consent  that  the  report  be  recommitted,  and  I  send  up  to  the 
Clerk's  desk  a  resolution  to  be  read. 

"ItoM  ^V^^*  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  on 
the  fooSn  post  office  site  be  recommitted,  and  that  said  committee  be  instructed 
to  rfonen  the  investigation  ^  ith  open  doors,  giving  the  citizens  o  Brooklyn,  V  Y., 
ft  such  counsel^  they  may  aesignate,  the  right  to  examine >  aU  ^imon^so  far 
taken  before  the  said  committee,  and  to  examine  any  and  all  xyitnoses  who  may  be 
hereafter  subp^naed  before  said  committee  ;  and  that  the  Committee  on  Public  Bmld- 
h'v"  a"d  Grounds  are  requested  to  especially  inquire  into  the  value  ot  he  s  t^ ^  pro- 
nosed  to  be  purchased  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  as  to  its  market  alue  on  the 
f^dwtf  l^ary,  1884;  also  to  inquire  whether  the  improvements  on  said  site 
were  deluded £ the  proposed  purchase  or  were  to  be  removed  by  the  parties  making 
Ihe sale  to  tl  e  Government  ;  also  to  inqrfire  whether  the  selection  of  the  proposed  site 
Is  satisfactorv  to  the  citizens  ot  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  what  voice  the  Secretary  of  the 
TreasniTha7permitted  them  to  have  in  the  selection  of  the  proposed  site  :  and  that 
Scom^  Grounds  be  directed  to  par  icu  arly  inquire 

fetav  o  the  value  of  the  property  owned  by  one  William  A  Husted,  which  isa£*| 
oftht  nfoPOSed  site,  which  property  is  assessed  on  the  map  of  the  assessor's  office  ot 
III  citv  of Brooklyn  X.  Y.,  at  $9,900,  for  which  the  Secretary  ot  the  Treasury,  it  is 
Se'e  proves  te  pay  Ji85,50n  -'and  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  be  requested 
to  sfspeml  further  negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  the  proposed  site  pending  the  in- 
vest  igat  ion. 

"  That  said  committee  be  instructed  to  make  its  report  herein  within  ten  days  tor 
^n^^ol  ^dTZhmzedto  send  a  subcommittee  of  three  of  its  members  to 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  to  inquire  into  the  tacts. 


-And  that  the  expenses  of  said  investigation,  not  to  exceed  $200,  shall  be  paid  out 
of  the  contingent  fund  of  the  House." 

&35^™«2Si*.  previous  ,«e8.iou  on  the. resolution  as  mod.Hed 
lV,e  previous  question  was  ordered  ;  aad  under  the  operation  thereof  the  resolution 
was  adopted. 

M?Vm>^t.(rsfm  "ll  by  .he  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  to 
submit  ^e  report  of  their  investigation  in  regard  to  the  selection  and  purchase  of 
she  for  •  i  b lie  building  in  Hrooklvn,  N.  Y.  I  ask  consent  that  one  or  two  gen  le wen 
of Mh  c  i  Uee  av  be  permitted  to  tile  their  views  upon  one  point  not  embraced 
in  the,  repm  t  of  t  he  majority.  I  will  state  that  the  entire  committee  agree  to  the  reso- 
lutions appended  to  the  report, 

The  SPBAKEB.  The  resolutions  will  be  read. 

ThaUhe  ch^gis  of  corrupt  or  collusive  action  on  the  part  of  thr S*£e- 
of  he  Tre  is  u  v  or  s<>me  of  his  subordinates,  in  connection  with  the  selector 
and  ;l!tS^tXa  Federal  building  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  haw  not  to* 

SM- That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  ami  Gronnds  be  jjjsohs  rged  from 
thefurther  consideration  of  the  matters  referred  to  them  m  this  regard. 


FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 


9 


June  19, 1884  (pages  5:544-5348) : 

PUBLIC  BUILDING,  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Hopkins.  I  now  desire  to  call  up  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Build- 
ings and  Grounds,  which  is  a  privileged  report. 

The  Speaker.  That  is  a  privileged  report,  and  the  Clerk  will  report  the  resolutions 
submitted  by  the  committee. 

The  Clerk  read  as  follows  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  charges  of  corrupt  or  collusive  action  on  the  part  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury,  or  of  some  of  his  subordinates,  in  connection  with  the  selec- 
tion and  purchase  of  a  site  for  a  Federal  building  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn  have  not 
been  sustained. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds  be  discharged 

from  the  further  consideration  of  the  matters  referred  to  them  in  this  regard." 
**###*# 

Mr.  Holman.  The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  has  agreed  to  pay  for  the  site  alone 
$450, 000,  I  believe. 

Mr.  Stockslager.  Four  hundred  and  eight  thousand  dollars  now. 

Mr.  Holman.  Four  hundred  and  eight  thousand  dollars  for  the  site  alone.  In  other 
words,  more  than  one- half  of  the  entire  appropriation  is  expended  for  the  site  alone. 

Now,  does  the  committee  think  that  it  was  in  conformity  with  the  duties  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  acting  under  an  act  of  Congress,  to  appropriate  for  the  site 
alone  more  than  one-half  of  the  eutire  sum  ?  Was  it  not  a  matter  which  required  care- 
ful consideration  how  far  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  was  justifiable  in  compelling 
Congress,  as  it  were,  to  appropriate  a  larger  sum  of  money  for  this  purpose  than  was 
origiually  intended  ? 

Mr.  Stockslager.  A  portion  of  the  members  of  the  committee,  and  I  must  say  that 
I  was  one  of  them,  was  of  opinion  that  with  the  limit  of  the  appropriation  fixed  at 
$800,000  it  was  not  wise  and  not  judicious  on  the  part  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
to  expend  so  large  a  sum  for  the  site  alone;  that  he  did  not  exercise  a  wise  discretion 
in  expending  $408,000  for  the  purchase  of  the  site.  Yet  we  did  not  feel  that  we  were 
called  upon  to  submit  resolutions  upon  that  subject,  but  simply  to  report  the  facts  to 
the  House  and  let  the  House  say  what  action  it  deemed  proper  to  take  on  the  subject. 
I  desire  to  say  that  1  concur  heartily  in  all  that  my  friend  from  South  Carolina  [Mr. 
Dibble]  has  said  on  the  subject,  with  the  exceptiou  that  I  believe  the  sum  of  8800,000 
is  amply  sufficient  to  purchase  a  suitable  site  and  to  erect  thereon  a  suitable  building 
for  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  I  believe  a  site  as  eligible  as  this,  if  not  more  so,  could  have 
been  purchased  and  a  building  erected  thereon  which  would  have  met  all  the  present 
and  future  wants  o/  the  city  of  Brooklyn  within  the  appropriation  of  .$800,000. 

Mr.  Adams,  of  Illinois.  I  ask  the  gentleman  to  state  where  that  site  is.  I  simply 
ask  for  information  ;  I  know  nothing  about  this  matter. 

Mr.  Stockslager.  My  judgment  as  a  member  of  the  committee  would  be  that  the 
Dutch  Church  property,  which  could  be  purchased  for  $260,000,  would  have  been  a 
more  eligible  site  than  the  one  selected.    There  were  objections  to  that  site,  however. 

Mr.  Adams,  of  Illinois.  What  were  they? 

Mr.  Stockslager.  If  I  had  more  time  I  could  explain  them.  The  committee  have 
set  forth  the  facts  very  fully  in  their  report. 

Mr.  Holman.  I  wish  to  inquire  of  my  colleague  whether  it  does  not  necessarily  fol- 
low, if  this  purchase  should  be  ratified,  that  Congress  will  be  required  to  appropriate 
a  further  sum  of  money  for  the  construction  of  this  building  ? 

Mr.  Stockslager.  I  think  so. 

Mr.  Pusey.  Three  hundred  thousand  dollars  will  be  sufficient  for  the|building. 
And  in  this  connection  I  desire  to  quote  from  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Bell,  the  Super- 
vising Architect  of  the  Treasury,  upon  that  point: 

"  By  Mr.  Stockslager  : 
"  Q.  Was  the  selection  of  this  Johnson-street  site  and  its  purchase  at  the  price 
named  with  a  view  to  the  erection  of  a  public  building  within  the  appropriation  of 
$800,000? 

"A.  Yes,  sir;  the  understanding  that  we  had  with  all  the  Congressmen  was  that 
we  were  to  buy  a  piece  of  property  that  would  cost  anywhere  less  than  $500,000. 
WTe  could  not  exceed  that  sum,  and  the  Secretary  put  that  question  very  decid- 
edly to  all  of  the  Congressmen  whether  or  not  they  as  a  body  would  be  satistied 
with  a  building  if  we  paid  $475,000  for  a  pieee  of  property,  and  only  had  $325,000 
for  the  building?  They  said  that  they  would  be  satistied,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  at  such  a  time  as  the  selection  was  made  they  would  go  to  Congress  and 
get  the  limit  of  the  appropriation  extended. 

"Q.  Then  it  was  not  with  a  view  to  the  completion  ot  the  building  within  that 
limitation  ? 


H.  Kep.  34  IS,  pt.  2  2 


10  '    FEDERAL  BUILDING  AT  BROOKLYN,  N.  Y. 

"A.  That  was  ray  understanding  of  the  matter. 

"Q.  With  that  understanding  do  you  think  it  would  he  wise  to  tray  a  site  cost- 
ing $450,000,  when  the  appropriation  was  limited  to  $800,000? 

4 'A.  I  think  it  would,  for  this  reason:  That  a  part  of  the  whole  huilding  could 
he  huilt,  as  is  frequently  done,  that  in  itself  is  a  unit  and  will  serve  the  purpose 
for  the  present,  and  in  future  years,  when  the  necessities  of  the  Government  in- 
crease, you  can  add  to  it  and  increase  the  hnilding  to  any  size  desired.  My  in- 
tention was  to  consider  the  question  in  relation  to  the  limit  of  cost,  which  was 
$800,000,  and  put  up  one  wing  of  the  huilding  complete  in  itself,  costing  $350,000." 
#  *  *  *  #  #  * 

Mr.  Slocum.  There  is  but  one  proper  subject  of  inquiry  for  Congress  in  connec- 
tion with  this  matter,  and  that  is  whether  the  Government  officers  have  been 
guilty  of  fraudulent  conduct.    Beyond  that  Congress  has  nothing  to  to. 

*****  :.}.-■<& •  9  *  M 

The  question  then  recurred  on  the  resolution  reported  from  the  commit  te  e. 
The  resolution  was  adopted. 

Q 


